April 2018 Issue: Growing Fruit, Old and New

Back in the 19th century after the gold-rush finished, the first Chinese-New Zealanders moved from the goldfields to the city and into different occupations. Many opened fruit shops. These fruit shops were the foundation for many Chinese-New Zealand families, whose entrepreneurial skills led them from being poor immigrants to "eventual prosperity". The shops would also have a profound impact on New Zealand as a whole; for example, the first supermarket in New Zealand was opened by a Chinese fruit shop owner. Ironically, the very same supermarkets would bring the heyday of Chinese fruiterers to an end. Last month saw the launch of "The Fruit of Our Labours", a definitive publication of the history of these fruit shops. The book continues a revival of interest in Chinese-New Zealand history and is of special interest for us due to its intersection of culture and commerce.

If you want to engage with the China/New Zealand space, knowing this history is important. While the opportunities in China are endless, taking advantage of them in a culturally competent and respectful way requires a basic knowledge of both Chinese and New Zealand history (e.g do you know what the poll taxis?). As Pip McLachlan recently argued, China is becoming more central to our lives as New Zealanders, and it is important for as many voices as possible to talk about it "to round out the picture". With China itself trying to influence this dialogue through soft power investment, independent voices are key. Perhaps the fruit from your own research will be the next one?

In NZCTA YA news, we are now recruiting for our executive committee! We are on the lookout for a Designer, Operations Coordinator, Marketing Associate and HR Associate. If any of these sounds like you, find out more and apply here. Those pressing that link may also notice that we have just completed a complete revamp of our website. We think it looks great. Check out the new design here.